I watched the movie Kite Runner directed by Marc Foster, and also the acclaimed novel by Khaleh Hossein. It is about a friendship between two Afghanistan boys that gets ruined by be trial. The betrayer sets put years afterwards to try and render his mistakes. I will not give away the plot but I would like too discuss one of the central themes in the movie; generational consequences and forgiveness.
(This is of course a question that is very central too most of SA's problems.)
It lead me to the question whether a previous generation can fix mistakes in the next generation and whether it is fair for a younger generation too suffer of a previous generation's mistakes? The film made me turn these thoughts over and over in my head. In the Bible there is clear evidence that God thinks of the human race in generations (also the individual) We see how Abram and Shara's mistake of a child with Leah created Israel's fatal enemy. We see how a king and generations suffer for not heading too the prophet Samuel and how God redeems a nation because of a long forgotten covenant out of previous generations. However all of these examples are based on the Old Testament. Moving on to non religious text we see in some epic novels the consequences of one generation on a next. The novel I am reading now is based on this. Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follet. However if we look at more modern literature, and peoples lives today. We dont value generational blessings and curses as much anymore. Except if it threatens our direct comfort zone of course. BEE (Black Economical Empowerment) is just one of the symptoms from previous generational mistakes. But the failure too take responsibility from is because the human race has become more selfish and impatient. People seek revenge/justice in their own life time. I believe that people are moving away form their identity in generations and nations groups and are operating more like independent cells. People care little for what their ancestors did and what their kids might do. Look at the struggle just too get the human race too work together against global warming, but its all in vain. Cause selfish people are consumed with their comfort now and not their kid's kids well being.
I think we would all benefit by taking a step back and looking at ourselves as a part of a generation. It creates perspective too our problems and might answer many questions. I also believe we can no longer afford too be so selfish. We need too take responsibility for our past, whether we where apart of it or not, adn change it for the better even if its not our future too be lived.
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Friday, June 6, 2008
the orange little man
Showing me a flash card of the little Indian with the orange toga, I would instantly shout : Ghandi! But I fail to know what has he really accomplished or why he was always included into books like "Minds that Shaped our century" or "100 Influential people" So I have read up about Ghandi. I truely believe we should all be more Ghandi-ish or practise Ghandism. Call it what you like but it is the magic dust we all seem to lack in our lives.
Ghandi valued the right things in life. People ans spirituality. The lowest classes in Indian culture he call "the children of God" when no one would fight for them he embraced them as brothers. He always seeked God's guidance and often fasted for his nation, meditating for days. He wore the same clothing infront of Ministers as he did at home. Everyone was valued equal and loved equal. truly a father of the Nation.
The thing that captivated me most about Ghandi, wasn't his pledge to non-violence (his trademark in history) but rather his lifestyle. At the end of his life he lived n a fruitarian diet, only whore clothes that he spun himself and only owned as much as he could carry. I stopped to think about this? What if I roamed the earth bear foot only eating fruit? What would be in my bag of belongings? My resent move required 3 trips with different cars. In high school with the fake fire alarm going off in the girls ress at 2am, I was found in my pajamas standing on the Rugby field clutching my Bible. It was seen as the "right" thing to grab when escaping flames. Thinking back now, what a stupid thing to grab! You could always get another one and what happend to the commandment "have the scriptures written on the tablets of your heart"
Anyway, I think I am going to start giving my stuff away to seek a life of simplicity. Just think about how much of your time and energy is consumed by materialistic stuff. After all that is why we work, to acquire more stuff. But do we need all this stuff? Do I need to own the latest DVD, do I need to drink an express latte at the BP every morning? And if you eat fruit, you wont even need dish washing liquid, after all the packaging is edible! "Isn't that a little drastic?" I can hear you say. But Ghandi did it and he wasnt always so humble. he studieed law in London and wore the western suites. He ate meat in his time in South Africa, fighting segregation, but his return to his country made him recall what was important.
Ghandi refused to be consumed by the materialistic world we live in.He seeked the spiritual and the human bond life on earth has to offer. The things that don't fit into a backpack.
Ghandi valued the right things in life. People ans spirituality. The lowest classes in Indian culture he call "the children of God" when no one would fight for them he embraced them as brothers. He always seeked God's guidance and often fasted for his nation, meditating for days. He wore the same clothing infront of Ministers as he did at home. Everyone was valued equal and loved equal. truly a father of the Nation.
The thing that captivated me most about Ghandi, wasn't his pledge to non-violence (his trademark in history) but rather his lifestyle. At the end of his life he lived n a fruitarian diet, only whore clothes that he spun himself and only owned as much as he could carry. I stopped to think about this? What if I roamed the earth bear foot only eating fruit? What would be in my bag of belongings? My resent move required 3 trips with different cars. In high school with the fake fire alarm going off in the girls ress at 2am, I was found in my pajamas standing on the Rugby field clutching my Bible. It was seen as the "right" thing to grab when escaping flames. Thinking back now, what a stupid thing to grab! You could always get another one and what happend to the commandment "have the scriptures written on the tablets of your heart"
Anyway, I think I am going to start giving my stuff away to seek a life of simplicity. Just think about how much of your time and energy is consumed by materialistic stuff. After all that is why we work, to acquire more stuff. But do we need all this stuff? Do I need to own the latest DVD, do I need to drink an express latte at the BP every morning? And if you eat fruit, you wont even need dish washing liquid, after all the packaging is edible! "Isn't that a little drastic?" I can hear you say. But Ghandi did it and he wasnt always so humble. he studieed law in London and wore the western suites. He ate meat in his time in South Africa, fighting segregation, but his return to his country made him recall what was important.
Ghandi refused to be consumed by the materialistic world we live in.He seeked the spiritual and the human bond life on earth has to offer. The things that don't fit into a backpack.
Friday, May 16, 2008
My Silence hasn't been golden, yet shouting hasn't been this much fun in years!
My beautiful baby Apple Mac Power Book as well as my adopted child my Canon 40 D was stolen last month.It felt literally like I lost my mind. Everything was on my Laptop, including my 12 Chapters of the book I was writing. in time like these a "back-up" are holy words that sooths the pain of loss like one of my mother herbal ointments. However my life did not stock this cream anymore, since my CD case with my Back -ups also seemed to escape my flat in the dead of night. So I am left with a book that is only typed in my head and a my mid year graphics exhibition coming up with a mere mac Power Book Packaging to exhibit. No, you do not want to be me this month. I have always clicked my heals together when we sang Nkosi Sikelela and stared at our Y flag thinking I lived in the most beautiful diverse country in the world. However this loss of my mac has left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was more than a patriotic predicament, but a employment catastrophe as well. You see every week I had to write for a local little news paper a "Proudly South African Article. What to write when all of sudden you fear your own room and can still smell the presence of your imposter's above your bed? According to the police I was drugged and there where at least 2 accomplices. However this did not give me "Get out of Writing SA article card" Instead my deadline was moved ahead. Eouch!Anyway i wrote an article and it was published, however my new take on SA did not even receive a paragraph of honor.
I am reading a book called Ja,No man by Richard Poplack. Its of The List from Exclusive books. It is set in the Apartheid era, yes sigh all my SA friends, Not another one of these! Yet I find it highly entertaining with a fresh English perspective on everything. I have often found myself laughing out loud. It has shown me a part of the Afrikaner Culture I do not wish to associate myself with.
I am part of the transformed South africa, the Rainbow nation child, where the release of Nelson Mandela is one of my first memories. I like to think I am not tainted by the Apartheid mind-set. However the occurance with my laptop and camera was a challenge to my belief in this country and the future it held for me.
I dated a Englishmen from Brittan and would endlessly argue the good points of SA, the growing economy, the established rights, etc. He firmly believed Brittan was a far better option to call your home. However now all good aspect of SA seam to fade into shadow of not feeling save anymore. The Month of May also hads its own drama where 5 men surrounded my car and started pulling on my doors, demanding I open for them, in broad day light at a "save" robot!
I am starting to idealize foreign countries such as Europe and exotic places. This is weird development into this passionate South African mind of mine. (I wanted to be president more, than I wanted to be Miss Sa as a child). However in a discussion with a friend, I realized that we need to stick and change this place that I used to love call home.
My beautiful baby Apple Mac Power Book as well as my adopted child my Canon 40 D was stolen last month.It felt literally like I lost my mind. Everything was on my Laptop, including my 12 Chapters of the book I was writing. in time like these a "back-up" are holy words that sooths the pain of loss like one of my mother herbal ointments. However my life did not stock this cream anymore, since my CD case with my Back -ups also seemed to escape my flat in the dead of night. So I am left with a book that is only typed in my head and a my mid year graphics exhibition coming up with a mere mac Power Book Packaging to exhibit. No, you do not want to be me this month. I have always clicked my heals together when we sang Nkosi Sikelela and stared at our Y flag thinking I lived in the most beautiful diverse country in the world. However this loss of my mac has left a bitter taste in my mouth. This was more than a patriotic predicament, but a employment catastrophe as well. You see every week I had to write for a local little news paper a "Proudly South African Article. What to write when all of sudden you fear your own room and can still smell the presence of your imposter's above your bed? According to the police I was drugged and there where at least 2 accomplices. However this did not give me "Get out of Writing SA article card" Instead my deadline was moved ahead. Eouch!Anyway i wrote an article and it was published, however my new take on SA did not even receive a paragraph of honor.
I am reading a book called Ja,No man by Richard Poplack. Its of The List from Exclusive books. It is set in the Apartheid era, yes sigh all my SA friends, Not another one of these! Yet I find it highly entertaining with a fresh English perspective on everything. I have often found myself laughing out loud. It has shown me a part of the Afrikaner Culture I do not wish to associate myself with.
I am part of the transformed South africa, the Rainbow nation child, where the release of Nelson Mandela is one of my first memories. I like to think I am not tainted by the Apartheid mind-set. However the occurance with my laptop and camera was a challenge to my belief in this country and the future it held for me.
I dated a Englishmen from Brittan and would endlessly argue the good points of SA, the growing economy, the established rights, etc. He firmly believed Brittan was a far better option to call your home. However now all good aspect of SA seam to fade into shadow of not feeling save anymore. The Month of May also hads its own drama where 5 men surrounded my car and started pulling on my doors, demanding I open for them, in broad day light at a "save" robot!
I am starting to idealize foreign countries such as Europe and exotic places. This is weird development into this passionate South African mind of mine. (I wanted to be president more, than I wanted to be Miss Sa as a child). However in a discussion with a friend, I realized that we need to stick and change this place that I used to love call home.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
fcuk
O my word my friends. I have had one of the most terrible weeks of my life. Someone broke into my new flat last friday and stole my Apple Mac and my 40 D Canon Camera. This all happened while I was in the flat. Accoeding to the police, they might have druged me to sleep through everything, but thank God for that, cause I preffer that to getting raped!
I was ice cold the next morning, cried for two days for my loss, went through anger and Histeria etc. I have lost all my university work as well as the layout for the newspaper I work for. My dad and I had a arguemnet, my mother contacted me again after a really LONG time and a guy drove into my car. So all and all it is not going good. Any encouragement would work right now. Absolutely anything.
Ps. Sorry for not replying to everyones messages, I am using a little dingy internet cafe now. Love you all
I was ice cold the next morning, cried for two days for my loss, went through anger and Histeria etc. I have lost all my university work as well as the layout for the newspaper I work for. My dad and I had a arguemnet, my mother contacted me again after a really LONG time and a guy drove into my car. So all and all it is not going good. Any encouragement would work right now. Absolutely anything.
Ps. Sorry for not replying to everyones messages, I am using a little dingy internet cafe now. Love you all
Monday, March 10, 2008
Snizzel my Nizzel
My life has been a bit hectic lately, so sorry for not getting around to all my friends. I have started working for a small newspaper publication in Stellenbosch. It is called The Capey and has just recently launched. I got the job by standing in the printer shop tuning the printer about my sample colours for one of my last freelance jobs. This guy was standing there and asked in astonishment "What are you doing?" I replied in a flippant way "I am busy ok, I work and study, I dont have time for printers to screw up my designs" "Come work for me! I need a new designer. Please email me your CV." I really didn't think much of it as I left in a rush, with his contacts. That was Monday. Tuesday I emailed my CV, just out of curiosity and to see what I could earn. Thursday evening was my interview and I started that Friday! Its all been very wow, any also very hard work. I basically had to redo all the designs and ads, because the previous designer was still working in Coral Draw. The layout looks a lot better and the newspaper has grown a lot. Expanding each week. We are printing 8000 just for Stellenbosch this Friday. After two weeks of working for the Capey I was phoned buy another newspaper, they to want me to change their layout. I just got signed with them today. Its a monthly publication and a bout 3 times the size of The Capey. I really love my job, well now its both my jobs. I am living on the edge of a adrenaline rush each day, facing huge deadlines. Its fun and I get to do lots of photoshoots with different companies.
It all getting a bit much for me know though. So Tonight I celebrated and got myself a flat in Stellenbosch Again. Now I don't have to drive through every day and do two hours of traffic. I am also SO SICk of living alone and being lonely here in Durbanville and have decided that I join my friends and culture in Stellenbosch again. With the jobs now, I could finance it myself.
The Design Academy is tough and we work hard, but at this time in my life I enjoy being so extreamly bussy. It keeps my mind of things and doesn't make me think to much or miss to much.
Love you all and look forward to your news : )
It all getting a bit much for me know though. So Tonight I celebrated and got myself a flat in Stellenbosch Again. Now I don't have to drive through every day and do two hours of traffic. I am also SO SICk of living alone and being lonely here in Durbanville and have decided that I join my friends and culture in Stellenbosch again. With the jobs now, I could finance it myself.
The Design Academy is tough and we work hard, but at this time in my life I enjoy being so extreamly bussy. It keeps my mind of things and doesn't make me think to much or miss to much.
Love you all and look forward to your news : )
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
There is a belief that photos can steal your soul. In Tibet, amongst Deep Muslims and japan cults. In America the believe stems from Voodoo practicing, where the duplication of yourself, like a voodoo doll is seen as a duplication of your soul. Now according to Terry Pratchett and the Disk world's Library references (the most reliable source in the world)and i quote:
"All across the multiverse there are backward tribes who distrust mirrors and images because, they say, they steal a bit of a person's soul and there's only so much of a person to go around...other people who spend their lives appearing in images of one sort or another seem to develop a thin quality."
No wonder models are so freaking thin. Its not the diets; carrots and rice cakes its all the snapping of the cameras that makes them keep their figures.
if we take a deeper look at the Human soul though, and we look at the celebrity wordl out there, it seems like celebrities souls has developed a thinness. Call it vanity if you want, call it a life without purpose, whatever. But if I read about Heath Leger's death, he seems like he had no should left even while he was living. Like it was taken away. Regarding Britney Spears's tabloid-wallpaper-lifestyle it seems like the little soul she has left is distorted and confused.
It reminds me of a famous quote: "All men die but not all men really live."
Friends, why am I telling you all of this? I dont know. Was on my mind and I couldnt sleep. However this week I was thinking of the things that steal my soul.
"All across the multiverse there are backward tribes who distrust mirrors and images because, they say, they steal a bit of a person's soul and there's only so much of a person to go around...other people who spend their lives appearing in images of one sort or another seem to develop a thin quality."
No wonder models are so freaking thin. Its not the diets; carrots and rice cakes its all the snapping of the cameras that makes them keep their figures.
if we take a deeper look at the Human soul though, and we look at the celebrity wordl out there, it seems like celebrities souls has developed a thinness. Call it vanity if you want, call it a life without purpose, whatever. But if I read about Heath Leger's death, he seems like he had no should left even while he was living. Like it was taken away. Regarding Britney Spears's tabloid-wallpaper-lifestyle it seems like the little soul she has left is distorted and confused.
It reminds me of a famous quote: "All men die but not all men really live."
Friends, why am I telling you all of this? I dont know. Was on my mind and I couldnt sleep. However this week I was thinking of the things that steal my soul.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
SMASHing
Hey hey
So I have finally started my university and it is great. Good to be back in the game. The first week was hell but now I have adjusted and has already handed in two projects successfully:) I feel like I have learned in leaps and bounds on Photography. (I have a shiny new camera, that takes amazing photies and I will post some for you guys later.) We worked on Satire this week and you South Africans can imagine Ek'sdom and Zumabwe was under the top 5 issues.
I am a new citizen in the Diskworld and it is great (if your a Terry Pratchett fan you know what I am talking about, if not, what took you so long?)i love the screwed up world that he created.
I have a new dog! And she is gorgeous. Nothing as loyal as dog :) My dad bought her for me because I felt a bit lonely.
Good luck friends with everything. I hope life is treating you well and that God blesses you abundantly.
Mwha!
So I have finally started my university and it is great. Good to be back in the game. The first week was hell but now I have adjusted and has already handed in two projects successfully:) I feel like I have learned in leaps and bounds on Photography. (I have a shiny new camera, that takes amazing photies and I will post some for you guys later.) We worked on Satire this week and you South Africans can imagine Ek'sdom and Zumabwe was under the top 5 issues.
I am a new citizen in the Diskworld and it is great (if your a Terry Pratchett fan you know what I am talking about, if not, what took you so long?)i love the screwed up world that he created.
I have a new dog! And she is gorgeous. Nothing as loyal as dog :) My dad bought her for me because I felt a bit lonely.
Good luck friends with everything. I hope life is treating you well and that God blesses you abundantly.
Mwha!
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Anxitment
I am starting my studies on the 18Th of Jan. AAAAH! (Kat you still in Hawaii? when is the next plane out?) Now to my working friends it must seem so chill, since you are all back behind your desks, however to my uni friends, you must feel my pain and outrage, since you guys only start in Feb this year. I am feeling excited, knowing that this is what I am suppose to be doing, at the right time a the right place. However it is still freaking scary : (
If you are not a frequent blog reader of mine, let me enlighten you; I am half way with my degree at Stellenbosch University, left last year and transfered to Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography. I have received all of my credits, but have to do extra subject this year - nervous about workload. Anyway, put Ill be a qualified person end of 2009 : )
I just really want to thank God for you guys, all my friends. I am really blessed with the most amazing friends. You have supported me in so many ways and I just want to say thank you for the year that has passed, for every little thing and big thing you have done for me. Thank you.
I love you all in my own special way.
Enjoy your year and I hope it is smashingly good!
If you are not a frequent blog reader of mine, let me enlighten you; I am half way with my degree at Stellenbosch University, left last year and transfered to Stellenbosch Academy of Design and Photography. I have received all of my credits, but have to do extra subject this year - nervous about workload. Anyway, put Ill be a qualified person end of 2009 : )
I just really want to thank God for you guys, all my friends. I am really blessed with the most amazing friends. You have supported me in so many ways and I just want to say thank you for the year that has passed, for every little thing and big thing you have done for me. Thank you.
I love you all in my own special way.
Enjoy your year and I hope it is smashingly good!
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